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Drinking Before I Knew I Was Pregnant

Q: I was drinking before I found out I was pregnant. Can this harm my baby?

A: It is unlikely that an occasional drink taken before you realized your pregnancy will harm your baby. The baby’s brain and other organs begin developing around the third week of pregnancy (one week after you miss your period), however, and are vulnerable to damage in these early weeks.

Because no amount of alcohol is proven safe, a woman should stop drinking immediately if she even suspects she could be pregnant, and she should abstain from all alcohol if attempting to become pregnant. Optimally, you should not drink when there is a chance that you may get pregnant.